Chapter 27: The Old Hypocrite Is Quite the Actor

Chapter 27: The Old Hypocrite Is Quite the Actor

A handprint was clearly visible on Hongmei's face.

"Wah wah wah, Mother, hit her, hit her again! Her and that idiot, he hit me, he actually hit me!" Shangguan Yuanxi was nearly eight years old but had been spoiled to the point of being utterly unruly.

In the General's Mansion, over the past two years, after Shangguan Yuanxi bullied Xiao Ruilin and was scolded by Xiaoyue, he had become more restrained—at least within the sight of Xiaoyue, Hongmei, and Dongju, he no longer dared to bully Xiao Ruilin.

Recently, hearing his grandmother and mother constantly badmouthing Xiaoyue, Shangguan Yuanxi began to despise Xiaoyue and her son as well.

Because Shangguan Yuanxi heard that the idiot Xiao Ruilin ate well, dressed well, and was adored by many people.

He hadn't found an opportunity to deal with Xiao Ruilin all morning, but now, finally, he caught him off guard and immediately struck.

"Son, don't cry, don't cry!" Xu Ruzhen saw Xiaoyue rushing over and panicked slightly. However, seeing her son's injuries, she gritted her teeth and said, "Princess, we are still part of the Shangguan family. Look at what Lin'er did to Yuanxi."

"Shangguan Yuanxi, who did you call an idiot? Who hit you?" Xiaoyue stepped forward, staring at Yuanxi and asked.

"He, he hit me, he's an idiot!" Shangguan Yuanxi, wincing in pain, pointed at Xiao Ruilin and cursed.

"Slap! Slap!"

Xiaoyue raised her hand, and two crisp slaps echoed through the silent imperial garden, making it even quieter, as if the sound of leaves falling could be heard.

One slap for Xu Ruzhen, one for Shangguan Yuanxi.

"Haha, good job, Yue'er!" Liu Ru Shi led the applause.

"Waa waa waa..." Shangguan Yuanxi, already quite chubby, made Xu Ruzhen struggle to hold him. He wriggled and fell down, then lay there kicking and screaming.

"Bang!"

Xiaoyue kicked Shangguan Yuanxi aside.

"Xiaoyue, you..." Xu Ruzhen was stunned, feeling the pain on her face and seeing her son kicked, she lost her composure and shouted, "Are you crazy? You hit me and kicked my son?"

"Hmph, Xu Ruzhen, you can be arrogant in the General's Mansion, but coming to the palace to let your child run amok, how dare you slap my people?!" Xiaoyue said coldly.

"But, Yuanxi is just a child!" Xu Ruzhen, intimidated by Xiaoyue's presence, quickly changed her tone, "As a princess, if you punish me, I won't say anything, but Yuanxi is still so young!"

"So, he can snatch my son's swing and insult others without any respect?" Xiaoyue replied coldly.

"But, shouldn't you ask what happened first? Waa waa waa, we are sisters-in-law after all!" Xu Ruzhen looked around, then suddenly burst into tears, pulling out a handkerchief.

Her mother-in-law was talking with the Empress Dowager. If this commotion drew their attention, would the Empress Dowager publicly humiliate a First-Rank Lady?

Sure enough, the noise attracted the Empress Dowager's attention.

The Empress Dowager approached, and everyone noticed she was holding a swaddled baby, covered with a light veil to protect the newborn from the bright sunlight.

"What happened?" The Empress Dowager glanced at the ground, then at Xiao Ruilin, before asking calmly.

"Oh, my dear grandson Yuanxi, what happened to you?" Hu Shi looked down and saw her grandson lying there like a mud doll. She quickly picked him up and asked.

"It was him, the idiot, he hit me, and she kicked me!" Shangguan Yuanxi pointed at Xiaoyao and Xiao Ruilin and shouted.

"Yuanxi!" Hu Shi was shocked and immediately covered her grandson's mouth.

"Hmph!" The Empress Dowager's cold rebuke made Hu Shi stiffen slightly.

Hu Shi helped her grandson sit up and turned to Xiaoyao, her eyes flashing with a cold glint.

"Princess, you usually have strict standards for Yuanxi. This child respects you as his aunt. In public, don't embarrass him further," Hu Shi said, bowing.

"Hmph, this old hypocrite is quite the actor!"

Actually, earlier, when Hu Shi spoke sarcastically in front of the Empress Dowager, Baby Ruo Xi had already grown annoyed.

Fortunately, Baby Ruo Xi felt her royal grandmother was indeed very wise.

"My royal grandmother is composed, wise, and elegant—this old hypocrite can't compare!"

Baby Ruo Xi wasn't exaggerating; the Empress Dowager was truly a wise and composed woman.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to support her son to such a high position!

"Yue'er, do you also manage other children in the General's Mansion?" The Empress Dowager looked at Xiaoyao and asked.

"Hmm?" Baby Ruo Xi, who had been touching her royal grandmother's jade bracelet, stopped absorbing spiritual energy and became curious about what would happen next.

"Replying to the Empress Dowager, in the General's Mansion, everyone indulges the second master. He often bullies the young lord, and Your Highness has educated him," Hongmei said, though not as articulate as Dongju, she knew when to speak up.

"Hongmei, don't talk nonsense. Yuanxi always loves his brother and would never bully the young lord!" Xu Ruzhen quickly reprimanded Hongmei.

"Shut up!" Hu Shi, exasperated, had to scold her incompetent daughter-in-law, who couldn't even stand up to Xiaoyue in the mansion and was now acting foolishly.

Although Xiaoyao had ignored the affairs of the General's Mansion for years, the household still treated her with respect, including Shangguan Jinghong, who always pampered her. Hu Shi also handled her carefully, but not excessively.

After all, she was a princess, a favored Princess Royal.

Xu Ruzhen, humiliated by the scolding, felt embarrassed, especially with so many former friends watching.

People often said she had married Shangguan Jingzhe with blind eyes, that his face alone was enough to put one off food.

But who knew she had no choice back then, needing someone to cover for her.

Now, seeing her lack of status in the General's Mansion and being scolded by her mother-in-law, many people covered their mouths and laughed.

Xu Ruzhen's face turned green, and a flash of resentment crossed her eyes as she looked at the Hu matriarch.